INDIAN Railways last Friday introduced a stored value card, the Go-India card, as well as a number of IT-related improvements to encourage tourists to travel by rail.

The Go-India card is sold at all authorised agents and rail ticket sellers throughout India.

Meanwhile, other software platforms including a train enquiry and train-tracking mobile app were launched on www.irctc.co.in and www.indianrail.gov.in, with pilot testing now effective for Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata.

The new implements were developed by the Centre for Railway Information Systems.

Jyoti Kapur, president of the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India, said: “With one of the largest railway networks in the world and expensive flight tickets, seamless and user-friendly systems for railway passengers will help develop tourism to more remote destinations and increase footfalls to untapped geographies in India.”

“The imminent introduction to high-speed trains will be a boon,” he added.